Carbureter for explosive-engines.



Nrfrnn 'STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS B. JEiFFEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARBURETER FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

s rncIFIcATIoN forming perfor Letters Patent No. 712,542, dated November 4, 1902. Application filed October 29, i). Serial No. 34,798. (No model.)

To all whom, t nba/y concern: t

Beit known that I, THOMAS B. JEFFERY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Carbureters for Explosive- Engines, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to carbureters, especially those designed for gas or vapor engines.

It consists of features relating to means for` giving motion to the capillary web or screen by which the carburetin'g liquid is brought to the mouthpieceof the-duct through which itj passes to the engine-cylinder, means for regu- -lating the relative supply of vapor and air,l

means for preventing the vapor and air from being forced out by back pressure upon the return stroke of the piston in thecylinder,

and means forbreaking up'and more'thoroughly intermixing the air and vapor on their way to .the cylinder.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical `section through my improved carburetor in a plane axial with respect to the rotating element, the head of the engine-cylinder being" shown in elevation beyond the plane of such section. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail section in a plane pawl torotate the shaft.

similar detail section showinga still further modified form of such lever. Fig. G is a detail section of the lower part of the chamber containing the oarbureting liquid, showing a modified form of device for preventing the wash or oscillation of the liquid. 1

A is a chamber which contains in the bottom part thereof the carbureting liquid ct. l

B is a rotary spider-or wheel havingits shaft hvsuitably" journaledin the chamber, such spider bein'g'arranged to rotate within the chamber.vr flphis spider has a diaphragm B', formed o'fva capillary web or screen and arranged to dip in the carbureting liquid at the lower side as the same is revolved.

C is a ratchet-disk rigid with the shaft b, constituting one member of an` alternating clutch device, of which the other member is the pawl E, hereinafter mentioned. I design to rotate the shaft to cause the capillary webdiaphragm B as it revolves to move through the carbureting liquid by means of a pneumatic motor device. This pneumatic motor device may be in a variety of forms. The form in which it is illustrated in the principal views consists of the piston D', operating in a cylinder CZ, which constitutes part of the passage D, leading to the source of pneumatic pulsation, alternating suction, and pressure or varying pressure.

E is a pawl which is attached to the head of the .piston D' and is thereby adapted to give rotary motion to the shaft b and to the capillary disk B step by step as the piston is reeiprocated in the cylinder by alternate suction and pressure or varying pressure com municated from the source of pneumatic pulsation. I do not limit-myself toa pawl and ratchet as the alternating clutch device for converting the pulsating action and resultant oscillating movementof the pneumatic motor-piston or equivalent element into rotary movement of the disk B. On the contrary, I may use any form of alternating clutch-that is, a clutch in which an alternating or reciprocating element communicates motion by its alternate movements only. In the structure illustrated such source of {pneumaticpulsation is the engine-cylinder,in which the pulsation is derived from reciprocation of the piston alternately sucking in the vapor and discharging the gases of combustion. resulting from the same. When such source of pneumatic pressure is relied upon for furnishing the motive power for rotating the screen, the same duct D which communieates the pulsation to cause the piston to act and cooperate may also be made to serve as a passage for conducting the vapor to the engine-cylinder, and in such case also it is most convenient and economicall to- `locate the ratchet on the shaftb within theehamber A;

but this is notan essential-feature of theV structure. As the most convenient means of adapting the structure to employ the same.

duct D for both purposes indicated I make the piston-cylinder d, which terminates the passage D,in a form adapting it to be intruded into the chamber A, as seen in Fig. 1, extending parallel to the plane of the rotating diaphragm-web and at a short distance only from the same, and at the side of said cylinder toward the web I extend therefrom to- Ward the plane of the web a bearing d2 for a mouthpiece F, which terminates in a plane as close tothe web as it may be without danger of touching it as the latter rotates. The cylinder d has an aperture d10, opening Within the mouthpiece-bearing d2, so as to communicate directly into the mouthpiece, which is telescoped or journaled in the bearing. The piston D' is hollow, being a cylinder with a closed end or head, to which the pawl is connected, as stated, the other end being open outwardly-that is, toward the source of pneumatic pulsation, which is thus communicated to the interior of the piston. The piston has an aperture D10, adapted at one position to register with the aperture d10 and at another position to be out of registration therewith, so that the latter aperture is covered and closed by the piston. As illustra-ted and as desirable, when the piston is operated by suction as distinguished from pressure the aperture d10 is out of registration with the aperture D10, and the latter is closed by the piston when the piston is at the inner end of its stroke, and said apertures are registered with each other, eecting communication between the passage D and the mouthpiece when the piston is at the outer limit of its stroke. Preferably, in order `that it shall not be necessary to give the piston a long stroke, I make both the apertures d10 and D10 quite narrow, as shown, relying upon their extent through at least half the circumference of the cylinder and piston to make the communication sufficiently free. When the duct D extends to the engine-cylinder, as in the construction illustrated, and. such engine-cylinder becomes the source of pneumatic pulsation, it will be intended that as the piston withdraws into the cylinder of the engine, producing a partial vacuum behind it and suction in the duct D. The first eect of such suction shall be to move the piston D of the motor pneumatic device outward, retracting the pawl Eand causing it by' its engagement with the ratchet-disk on the shaft b to rotate the capillary7 diaphragm one step and move a fresh portion of the capillary web B out from the carbureting li uid and bring a fresh portion over the mouthpiece F, and it is for the purpose of insuring the occurrence of this movement before the passage D is brought into direct communication with the open month of the mouthpiece that the piston D is made as described, so as to cover the entrance to that month at the time the suction commences. The suction being thus caused to produce its full effect upon the piston with a tendency to move it and such tendency being practicallyinstantaneous, the uncovering of the passages of the mouth by the coming into registration of the ports d10 and D10 may be occurring during the latter portion of this movement, and this will not inierfere with the completion of the same after it is once commenced, and said motion having been completed, the full stroke having been given by the piston, registration of the apertures d10 and D10 beingeected, continuing suction experienced through the mouth and operating on the film of the carbureting liquid adhering in the meshes of the portion of the web which at that instant stands opposite the mouth causes the same to be sucked out of the meshes, carried With the current of air or vapor, and drawn by the same suction through the duct D into the engine-cylinder.

As soon as the vapor-drawing stroke of the engine-piston is completed the air and vapor in the passage D and cylinder d quickly resumes normal atmospheric tension through the admission of air through the ports d3, which are provided,primarily,for the purpose of giving a proper intermixture of air with the vapor, and which, secondarily, answer the purpose of relieving the piston D of the suction tending to hold it at the outer limit of its stroke. To return it promptly to the opposite limit, retracting the pawl over the ratchet, and takingv the ports d10 and D10 `out of registration, I provide a spring E2, connected in any such manner as to operate upon the piston, drawing it inward. Most conveniently it is attached to the end of the pawl and stretched therefrom to a proper connection on the Wall of the chamber A.

I show in the drawings a mouthpiece F having a feature of construction which is fully described and claimed in my application, Se-

rial No. 20,244, filed June 14, 190.0. This mouthpiece has the aperture f, through which the carbureting liquid is sucked from the screen and adapted to be rotated, so as to change the direction of its longer dimension, and thus cause a dierent dimension of the mouth to stand transverse to the direction of movement of the screen in its rotation past the mouth. In order to apply this particular feature of construction to a carbureter in which the means of rotating the screen herein described is embodied in such form that the piston or equivalent device for actuating the screen is situated uponthe same side thereof as the mouthpiece, I provide for rotating the mouthpiece by giving it a segment-gear rim F2 and providing a spur-gearFS, meshing therewith, both located within the chamberA, the shaft of the gear F0 being extended out to a stuffing-box at d20 and exteriorly provided with a handle and index F00 for rotating it to adjust the mouthpiece and indicating its ad- `justment.

In order to prevent the vapor which is drawn toward the cylinder from being expelled at any point in the return stroke, I pro- ICO IIO

I-vide acheck-valve Gr, located infthe duct D,

between the `enginew-cylinder and `,thecarbureter, such check-valve being arranged to open normally upon movement of the air or -vapor toward the engine-cylinder and to be closed upon movement or pressure in the opposite direction. r i i In order to admit exterior air in addition tothe vapor which is drawn in in the manner described and also to regulate the proportion of air. so drawn, I provide an air-inlet in the pipe D, consisting of ports cl3 and over such ports a closure, which is most conveniently made as a rotatingvapertured coverd', which may be made to close the ports more or less completely and by the variation thus produced to regulate the proportion of air admitted with the vapor when suction operates to draw the latter through the duct toward` the engine-cylinder. For the purpose of se` curing more complete inter-mixture of the air with the vapor or spray of the hydrocarbon liquid andthe completebreaking up of the latter the pipe D between the carbureter and check-valve above described hasprojecting fromits inner wall a spiral flange D3, tendingto give to the current of air and va` por moving through it a rotary as Wellas a longitudinal movement, which will have al tendency to throw theine particles of spray,-` which the direct suction tends somewhat to concentrate andcent'er, outward throughthe surrounding air,.thus effectingmore complete distribution. i Y l y.

I do not limit myself to theuse of a .pistong operating in a-cylinder as the pneumatic motor for .the purpose, ofgiving movement to` the capillary diaphragm-web. A variety of` otherforms of device Mmay be used insteadas, for example,what maybe/termed a pneu-l matic lever. In Fig. 3 I have shown one form of such pneumaticlever consisting of a :bel-3 lows M, whose moving wall M" corresponds to` and has the function ofthe piston in thermo` tor illustrated -in the principal figures. `In Fig. 4 i another form Ofpneumatic lever is illustrated, consisting of a iiexiblediaphragm N, mounted about an `aperture in the wall of the pneumatic chamber, having atits center: a suitably-rigid diskoperati'vely connected to the mechanism .for rotating the shaft In Fig. 5 I have shown afurthermodifcatiou: of thepneumatic lever, consisting of a simple` valve P, which is normally seated over an aperture in lthe wall of the carbureting-cham-- ber,its. margin,howev.er,being flexible,sothat. it operates similarly to the diaphragm shownin Fig. 4. When anyof these devices 2is em-4 ployed, the duct D may .be branched, one; branch leadingV tothe `pneumatic lever and the other to the mouthpiece, through which the vaporor spray `of the carburetingliquid;

`may be drawn, andlin suchcase a closing device for the mouthpiece may be operatively connected with-the :pneumatic lever to open i and close the mouthpieceat-proper time'with, respect to the 4movern ent commu nicatedf by@ the,pneumatic lever.

such a construction with the pneumatic lever in the formof a bellows. In this view, R represents the branch of the duct D, leading to In Fig. 3 I have shown the mouthpiece f, S representing a gate or A closure for the mouth attached to the moving element M' ofi` the bellows which constitutes the pneumatic lever, being withdrawn from over the mouth atothc collapsed position of the bellows, while at the inflated position illustrated the gate closes said mouth.

The capillary web B is preferably made of fine meshed wire cloth, commonly called wire-gauze, which is stretched on a skeleton wheel or circular spider B, which comprises the spokesBQ. and the peripheral rim or ange B3,lto which the gauze may be secured at its outer` circumference. l The web B is also secured at an interior circle, where the wheel or spider has a second circular iiange B4 for the purpose of preventing the web from` bellying or buckling, as it is otherwise liable to do, such action tendingto cause it` to rub on the mouthpiece and be de,- prived of the liquid in the interstices before the'same can be exposed at themouthand sucked out. 1

It is important that no area of thefrevolv.- ing element comprising thediaphragm B and cured should be exposed at the mouth except `the wire'gauze, and that only when its interstices are not closed or covered by anysolid or imperforate portion of the area of the frame i 'to which it is mounted, because in case such .1

imperforate surface which. has beeudipped inthe liquid and `been wettedvtherein is brought up to the-mouth the portion of `the liquid which adherestto` the surface and is liable to be sucked off at theA mouth varies verymuch with the `speed ofrotation and somewhat with the conditionof. the surface,

being sometimes-very little or ,nonefat all and at other times a decided film :greater in quantity than would `be contained inthe;

meshes of the .wire-gauze. `Unifonmity ofthe quantitybeing essential to the result sought no area is to be exposed at the mouthpiece, which is not calculated tocarry a substantially uniform `quantity to the squarci inch of the` area thus exposed. lFor `thisreason it will be noticed that while in order to stretch the diaphragm `composed ofthe wire'gauze and ca-use it to presentan even-surface as igt is carriedeby the mouthpiece it isxsecured,l as described,` to the peripheral .flange of the` skeleton wheel B. "Thesmouthpiece stands entirely within the circumferenceflof` such iiange, no portion-,of the i latter being. at anyv time exposed .oppositerthemoutln reter pertains, I r provide a wave-bafilingde` vice :which `mayfbe inthe form of a plate A?,

suitablly secured. tothe walll of fthe. chamber and extending close to .but not touching the diaphragm-web B at the side at which the mouthpiece stands, and I provide a similar baffle-plate d2, secured to the opposite side of `the chamber and projecting in toward the Web as close as possible in view of the presence of the spokes B2 of the spider B. There is thus left only a very small area of-surface of the liquid which is not checked by the bafie-plates, and any considerable splashing is thus avoided.V It is not essential that this baffling device should be in the form of a simple plate, as above described; but it may consist of a series of surfaces extending transverse to the plane of the liquid, as in the form shown in Fig. 6, which presents a. grating, comprising edgewise bars A20 A20, the bars being of sufficient width to cover the maximum variation in the liquid-level and the grate being so placed that at the lowest stage of the liquid the lower edge of the bars Will preferably intrude into the liquid, While at the highest stage theupper edge of the bars will not be submerged.

I claim- 1. In a carbureter, a chamber containing the carbureting liquids; a capillary web or screen, and suitable supports therefor; arotary shaft by which the screen is given movement into and out of the liquid; a ratchet rigid with such shaft; a pneumatic motor, and a pawl connected with its moving ele- .ments and engaging with a ratchet; and a source of pneumatic pulsation communicating with the motor.

2. In a carbureter, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen, and suitable supports therefor; a rotary shaft by which the screen is given movement into and out of the liquid; a pneumatic vmotor mounted'on the chamber-wall; a sou rce of pneumatic pulsation communicating with such motor, and an alternating-clutch device 'having one element fast to the shaft and the other element connected with the moving element of the pneumatic motor, whereby the alternate action of the moving element of the motor gives a step-by-step movement to the capillaryweb. y

3. In a carbureter, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web er screen, andmeans for'supporting it Within the chamber; a shaft by which the screen is vgiven movement in to and out of the carbureting liquid; a pneumatic motorV device mounted Within the chamber; a source of pneumatic pulsation communicating with the interior of the motor to give alternating movement to its moving element; and au alternating clutch device, having one element fast to the rotary shaft and the other connected to the moving element of the motor.

4. In a carbureter, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen, and means for supporting it Within the chamber; a shaft by which the web or screen is given movement into and out of -the carbureting liquid; a pneumatic motor mounted Within the chamber; a source of pneumatic pulsation communicating with the interior of the motor to give alternating movement in opposite directions to its moving element; a ratchet-disk on the shaft, and a pawl connected with the moving element of the motor and engaging the ratchet-disk.

5. In a carbureter, the chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a disk, comprising a capillary Web or screen, journaled Within the chamber, and dipping at its lower edge in the liquid; an alternating-clutch device, having one element rigid with the disk; the pneumatic motor device mounted on the wall of the chamber and having its moving element connected with the other element of the alternating-clutch device, whereby the alternating movement in opposite directions of the moving element of the pneumatic motor gives a step-by-step movement in continuous direction, to the disk, and a source'of pneumatic pulsation communicating with the pneumatic motor, to give it such alternating motion. v

6. In a carbureter for gas orA vapor engines,

-a chamber containing the carbureting liquid;

a capillary web or screen adapted to be moved into and out of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a pneumatic motor operatively connected to said mechanism; and a duct leading from the engine-cylinder'to such motor and communicating with the interior thereof to give alternating movement in opposite directions to the moving element of the motor.

7. In a carbu reter for gas or vaporengines, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen adapted to be moved into and out of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a pneumatic motor having its moving element operatively' connected to said mechanism; a duct leading from the enginecylinder into the chamber of the pneumatic motor, such'duct having an aperture intermediate the engine-cylinder and the motorchamber, and a mouthpiece communicating with such duct and abutting on the capillary web or screen, whereby the suction produced in the engine-cylinder 'rst actuates the screen and afterward operates to extract the liquid from its surface exposed at the mouthpiece.

8. In a carbureter for a gasor vapor engine, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen adapted to be moved into or out of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a pneumatic motor device operatively connected to said mechanism; a source ofpneumatic pulsation and a duct leading therefrom into the pneumatic motor to give al- IOO IIO

IZO

ternating movement in opposite directions to y its moving element; said duct having an aperture intermediate the source of pulsation and the motor, and a mouthpiece with which Vsuch aperture communicates, abutting on the capillary web or screen.

9. In a carbureter for gas or vapor engines,

a chamber containing the carbureting liquid a capillary web or screen adapted to be moved into or out of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a pneumatic motor operatively municating with such aperture and abuttingl on' the capillary web .or screen, the -moving element of the motor having connected withL it means for covering and uncovering such aperture as it is moved in oppositedii'ections by the pneumatic pulsations. i

l0. In a carbureter for `gas or vapor engines, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web -or screen adapted to be moved into and out of theliquid; a source of pneumatic pulsation; a duct leading therefrom into the pneumatic motor to give alterhating movementin opposite directions to the moving element of the latter, said duct having an aperture within the carbureting-chamber; a boss inserted in such aperture, and a mouthpiece rotatably journaled or seated in such boss, communicating with the aperture and abutting ou the capillary web or screen, said mouthpiece having an oblong mouth at the end abutting on the screen, and means for engaging the mouthpiece to rotate it in its seat, comprising a shaft extend ed through the Wall of the chambenand means for exteriorly operating it to rotate the mouthpiece.`

ll, In a carbureter for a gas or vapor engine, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen adapted to be moved into and out of` the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a cylinder intruded into the carbureting-chamber, and a piston adapted to reciprocate therewith and operativelyconnected to said mechanism; a source vof pneumatic pulsation; and a duct connecting the same with such cylinder to cause such pulsation to reciprocate the piston in the latter.

' be moved into andout of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a cylinder intruded into the carburetingchamber,and a piston therein operatively connected to said mechanism; a source of pneumatic pulsation, and a duct connecting the same With said cylinder to cause such pulsation to operate the piston in i the latter.

into the carbureting-chamber; pistons reng therein and operatively connected 'hanism; la duct leading from the ler to such intruded cylinder,the

ber containing the carbureting liquid; a liq- Iduct leading from the engine-cylinder to said pneumatic motor; a cylinder intruded into said carbureting-chamber;a piston in such cylinder, operatively connected to such mechaiiism; ducts leadingi'rom the engine-cylinder to such intruded cylinder, the latter having an aperture intermediate the engine-cylinder, and the nearest position of the piston- `-head thereto; a mouthpiece communicating with such aperture and abutting on t-he capillary web or screen; means for closing said aperture connected to and moved bythe pis- `ton in its reciprocation, and adapted to uncover the aperture at one limit oli' the pistons movement, and to cover it at the opposite limit. l i

l5.` In a carbureter for gas or vapor engines, Y

acham ber containing the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen adapted to move into and out of the liquid; mechanism for so moving it; a cylinderintruded into thecarbureting-chamber; a hollow piston operating in said cylinder, closed at one end and open at the other end; a duct leading from the engine-cylinder to the intruded cylinder attheend vtoward which the hollow piston opens; said intruded cylinder having an aperture,

and a mouthpiece communicating with such Aaperture and abutting on the capillary web or screen; the hollow cylinder having a lateral aperture adapted to register with said aperture of the cylinder at one limit of the pistons movement, and to be out of registration therewith at the opposite limit.

16. In a carbureter for agas-engine, a chamloer containing the carbu reting liquid; a capillary web or'screen; a skeleton Wheel having a peripheral fiangeto which the capillary web or screen is secured and by which it is held stretched in proper plane; means for rotating the wheel to cause the capillary web orscreen to pass into and out of the carbureting liquid; a duct connected with the engine-cylinder, having a mouthpiece'vvith the carburetingchamber, abutting near the capillary web,

wholly within the circle bounded by the liange to which the web is secured.

17. In acarbureter fora gas-engine, a chamber containing the carbureting liquid;- aliqnid-carrying device, and means forwmoving it into and out of the liquid; a wave-battling device, located substantially at the liquidleveliand extending near the surface of the liquid-carrying device to checkthe wave action `or splashingiof theliquid.

18. In a carbureter for a gas-engine, a cham- ICO IIO

uid-carrying element, and means for'moving it in and out of the liquid; abale-plate supported Within the chamber, substantially at the liquid-level, and having an edge extending near the surface of the liquid-carrying element to prevent the liquid splashing against the liquid-carrying element.

19. In a carbureterforagas-engine, a chambercontaining the carbureting liquid; a capillary web or screen, and means for revolving it with its lower portion dipped in the liquid; a baffle-plate extended approximately at the liquid-level, secured to the Wall of the chamberand having an edge abutting near the Web -orscreen, to check the splashing of the liquid.

20'. In a carbureter for a gas-engine, a charnber containing carhureting liquid; a capillary web or screen, and means for revolving it with its lower portion dipped in the carbureting liquid; and a bafe-plate securedto the Wall of the chamber immediately above the surface level of the liquid therein, extending close to the capillary web or screen Without touching the same, to check the splashing of the liquid.

V In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of October, A. D. 1900.

Trios. B. JEFFERY.

In presence 0f- CHAs. S. BURTON, EDGAR L. CONANT. 

